If you are parents dealing with the seasonal or environmental allergies of your toddler, you know how tough it is to keep them away from the things that make them sneeze: that friendly dog; the stuffed toy bin at the neighbor’s house; those pretty flowers on the front lawn.

However, you can make your indoor environment as allergy-friendly as possible, and help your child get a break from the onslaught of allergens.

Here’s 12 easy tips for parents to keep their children’s allergy symptoms at bay:

1. Has your little one been playing in the back yard? No problem! Just have them get out of those clothes as soon as possible (so you don’t have allergens tracked through the house) and pop those kids in the tub. Make sure you wash them all over, including their hair.
2. Decorative throws and couch pillows can harbor many offending substances, including allergens and dust mites. Toddlers just love to play with these items. If you put pillows and throws in a hot clothes dryer once a week for just 15 minutes, you’ll kill off the dust mites. To get rid of other allergens, try washing pillows and throws regularly: just follow the instructions to avoid damaging them. In some cases, you may be looking at a dry cleaning bill.
3. Vacuuming is one of the single best things you can do to keep your home as allergen free as possible – for toddlers and parents. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. A central vac system that is vented to the outside is one of your best bets. Don’t forget soft surfaces like furniture! Furniture will hold all sorts of things – including allergens.
4. Wash your child’s bedding once a week in hot water. This will remove allergens and kill dust mites. If your bedding cannot tolerate hot water, use the hottest water possible and consider an allergen-reducing laundry detergent.
5. Pillows deliver allergens right to your nose. Experts recommend replacing pillows for everyone on a yearly basis or covering them with cases certified to keep dust mites away. Toddler pillows are recommended by some sleep experts, to keep your child’s head in the right position for sleeping. Covering this pillow will allow your child to use it until they are ready for a “big boy / girl” pillow.
6. Mattresses are as likely to collect allergens and dust mites as pillows. Cover mattresses with an allergy proof case too.
7. Wet mats in the kitchen, bathroom or other locations can harbor mold, as well as other allergens. Hang them to dry!
8. Clean the air in your home. Use HEPA filters on your air conditioning or heating system, and consider air purification units for your child’s bedroom.
9. Anything you do to reduce dust and allergens is a good thing. In bedrooms, window blinds are serious allergen offenders. Wipe them down frequently. Also wipe down shelves and bookcases.
10. Stuffed animals are one of the worst kinds of toys for allergic kids – but everyone has them. These toys should not be put on the bed! Keep them in another container, away from the sleeping surface.
11. You can keep any soft toys as free of allergens as possible with one simple trick: have them spend the day (when your child is away) in the freezer! Freezing a soft toy kills the dust mites. Frequent washing is also recommended – just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
12. If your child’s allergies are serious, consider installing a hard floor surface throughout your home. Hardwood and tile are much better for allergy sufferers, because they don’t hold allergens in their fibers.

Sources: CBS Health Watch and BeAllergyWise